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October 28, 2005
e-Mail: mainfairy@smockingbooks.com
Website: Garden Fairies Smocking & Needlearts Catalog
Smocking Newsletter - Beth-Katherine Kaiman, copyright 1997-2004, all rights reserved. Please respect my creativity and hard work and ask permission before you copy something from these newsletters for your non profit goup, I always ask that you quote me correctly and give me credit with a way for people to get back to me. Thank you. IF you wish to quote me in a venture for profit please contact me separately concerning royalties.
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We now are posting our newsletter on the web with pictures of the products we recommend. Here is the link to past issues: http://www.smockingstore.com/smocknew.html
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What's New at the Garden Fairies? -- click here to go to this page
Lot's of new stuff on the site including 3 new smocking plate designers (if you know of any company I am missing please send me the contact info). The piping section of the notions page has almost all the colors posted (missing is 'Navy' but then we all know what color that is). New books and new patterns.
We are now carrying FIVE!!!! new smocking plate designers: June Bug Designs, Wonderfully Made. Enchanted Child, Crosseyed Crickets & Frances Jones. To see them go to: What's New Page 4. We are also now carrying Children's Corner Smocking Plates.
SALE ^_^ SALE ^_^ SALE ^_^ -- Still going on until it's gone!!!
We are continuing a couple of sales on fabric. Our Overstock Heirloom Fabric Sale: Bearissima in Yellow and White Dotted Swiss (Embroidered) - sale price 20% off retail. The "I'm-tired-of-Looking-at-Corduroy Sale" -- 30% off prices listed on the website. Don't pass up these bargains. Go to our online edition of this newsletter to order.
Lot's of new stuff on the site including updated pages for Ellen McCarn and Pat Garretson's Smocking Plates with all the plates online now. The piping section of the notions page has almost all the colors posted (missing is 'Navy' but then we all know what color that is) and we are now offering the piping in 20 yard put ups, you save in the long run buying in bulk. We also have new books and new patterns listed on our What's New Pages.
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<< I am interested in adding a ribbon to my next project. How do you weave ribbon in and out of the pleats? Thanks! Marie >>
Ribbon weaving through smocking stitches is fun! It is an excellent way to dress up your smocking design for special occasions. The stitch that is mostly used as your base smocking for weaving through is the wave or baby wave, depending on how narrow your ribbon is. A flat bodkin (or ribbon weaver) is necessary for the weaving the ribbon as it slides over the top of pleats but in a pinch a blunt tipped tapestry needle can be used as well. A soft ribbon is also important. Offray is the softest of the polyester ribbons out there but personally I prefer to use silk satin ribbon as Poly ribbons tend to be stiff and unwieldly. Metal Bodkin/Ribbon Weaver $.50 each This notion weaves ribbon through your smocking stitches to enhance your smocking. Price 50¢ Quantity requested There are a couple of ways we see ribbon in smocking. The first is weaving a 2" wide ribbon through the design by creating buttonholes in the valleys of the pleats where you want the ribbon to run to the back. We see this a lot on designs that end at the waistline. The 2nd way, and most common, is to weave the ribbon through your wave stitches to compliment your smocking design. You can weave double ribbons in complimentary colors to create a plaid effect such as in The 3rd way is to add in bows of ribbon to the designs. Ellen McCarn has also criss crossed ribbon vertically in her design Myles, very cute. EM Myles Price $3.50 Quantity requested The trick of ribbon weaving designs is to make sure your smocking is secure and not able to stretch too much. A full smocked insert or one that is back smocked is your best choice such as "Firelight" by Children's Corner. The ribbon adds in stability but you have to make sure first that your design is stable to begin with, otherwise your ribbon will stretch out and tear away from the seams. The design should have the ribbon encased in a seam or otherwise secured. You can also anchor your ribbon by adding in a bullion rose or two on top of the woven ribbon is an extra special touch, such as CK Cynthia. Children's Corner Creative Keepsakes CC Firelight Price $3.00 Quantity requested CK#22 Cynthia Price $3.50 Quantity requested Adding in a bow or two upon your smocking design can be done with 4mm silk ribbon or silk satin ribbon as it falls nicely but be aware you might have to replace it after washing. Better yet make it detachable.
Ribbon weaving through smocking stitches is fun! It is an excellent way to dress up your smocking design for special occasions. The stitch that is mostly used as your base smocking for weaving through is the wave or baby wave, depending on how narrow your ribbon is. A flat bodkin (or ribbon weaver) is necessary for the weaving the ribbon as it slides over the top of pleats but in a pinch a blunt tipped tapestry needle can be used as well. A soft ribbon is also important. Offray is the softest of the polyester ribbons out there but personally I prefer to use silk satin ribbon as Poly ribbons tend to be stiff and unwieldly.
Metal Bodkin/Ribbon Weaver $.50 each This notion weaves ribbon through your smocking stitches to enhance your smocking.
There are a couple of ways we see ribbon in smocking. The first is weaving a 2" wide ribbon through the design by creating buttonholes in the valleys of the pleats where you want the ribbon to run to the back. We see this a lot on designs that end at the waistline. The 2nd way, and most common, is to weave the ribbon through your wave stitches to compliment your smocking design. You can weave double ribbons in complimentary colors to create a plaid effect such as in The 3rd way is to add in bows of ribbon to the designs. Ellen McCarn has also criss crossed ribbon vertically in her design Myles, very cute.
EM Myles
The trick of ribbon weaving designs is to make sure your smocking is secure and not able to stretch too much. A full smocked insert or one that is back smocked is your best choice such as "Firelight" by Children's Corner. The ribbon adds in stability but you have to make sure first that your design is stable to begin with, otherwise your ribbon will stretch out and tear away from the seams. The design should have the ribbon encased in a seam or otherwise secured. You can also anchor your ribbon by adding in a bullion rose or two on top of the woven ribbon is an extra special touch, such as CK Cynthia.
Children's Corner
Creative Keepsakes
CC Firelight
CK#22 Cynthia
Adding in a bow or two upon your smocking design can be done with 4mm silk ribbon or silk satin ribbon as it falls nicely but be aware you might have to replace it after washing. Better yet make it detachable.
There are several designers who use ribbon within their designs. I have created a page specifically for them at:
Ribbon Smocking Design Plates
Mostly it's the older designers of smocking plates (1979-1990) who fell in love with ribbon on smocking. They liked the 3-dimensional look ribbon gave to their smocking and coming up with different ways to use ribbon added to their challenge to find something new to put onto their smocking. It seems the latest batch of smocking plate designers are more infatuated with picture smocking rather than embellished geometric smocking, pity as embellished smocking adds a dimensional touch to it that picture smocking lacks. For placing ribbon at the waistline the sizes used are 1 1/2" - 2" using the softest ribbon you can find. Too many of the cheaper polyester ribbons are not flexible enough or are too harsh in feel. You want to go for the most supple ribbon you can find that has a lot of body. A Satin ribbon is your ribbon of choice with waistline weaving. The other common style of ribbon weaving utilizes a ribbon ranging from 1/8" - 1/2". Again choose a supple ribbon that folds easily into a "V" shape without a fight. You can iron your ribbon flat at the bend marks after weaving your ribbon through the stitches. Other embellishments one can do is bullion roses, buttons for eyes or wheels, silk ribbon bows, or other character buttons. (See Ellen McCarn plates as examples.)
Mostly it's the older designers of smocking plates (1979-1990) who fell in love with ribbon on smocking. They liked the 3-dimensional look ribbon gave to their smocking and coming up with different ways to use ribbon added to their challenge to find something new to put onto their smocking. It seems the latest batch of smocking plate designers are more infatuated with picture smocking rather than embellished geometric smocking, pity as embellished smocking adds a dimensional touch to it that picture smocking lacks.
For placing ribbon at the waistline the sizes used are 1 1/2" - 2" using the softest ribbon you can find. Too many of the cheaper polyester ribbons are not flexible enough or are too harsh in feel. You want to go for the most supple ribbon you can find that has a lot of body. A Satin ribbon is your ribbon of choice with waistline weaving.
The other common style of ribbon weaving utilizes a ribbon ranging from 1/8" - 1/2". Again choose a supple ribbon that folds easily into a "V" shape without a fight. You can iron your ribbon flat at the bend marks after weaving your ribbon through the stitches.
Other embellishments one can do is bullion roses, buttons for eyes or wheels, silk ribbon bows, or other character buttons. (See Ellen McCarn plates as examples.)
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,Silk Ribbon Smocking,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
So far there are no books dedicated to this subject. You can find some information on how to work with it and designs in the book A to Z Smocking, in past issues of Sew Beautiful Magazine and Australian Smocking & Embroidery so if you are in love with the look it is trial and error on your part. If you have never embroidered with silk ribbon there are a few basic rules you should be aware of. First is to work with short lengths of ribbon, 14" is the recommended length anything longer will end up looking like crap when you're done pulling it through the fabric. The 2nd is that some stitches are not suitable for working on smocked and pleated fabric such as the 3 dimensional flowers as daffodills. Rule of thumb is that if the stitch is recommended for washing you can use it on your smocking. Many have asked if they can smock with silk ribbon and the answer is yes you can but you have to be prepared for the reality of working with ribbon as it is not like pulling out a long strand of floss to smock with. You have to use shorter lengths of the ribbon otherwise you will end up with a mess towards the end of the strand. Pulling the ribbon in and out of your fabric will cause wear and tear on the ribbon, straiting will happen (a pull in the middle of the ribbon that causes a run like in nylons) and there is really no way to repair it once this happens. Again 14" is the recommended length. For embellishing you need to decide upon a smocked grid style for your backdrop whether it be on the front or on the back. Trellises worked on the reverse side as back smocking make pretty shapes on the front which can easily be used as your canvas for silk ribbon embroidery. Designs based on vines are perfect to use on your smocked piece as you can use the outline stitch to form your vine or branches. There are many smocking designs that use bullion roses and flowers that can easily be adapted for silk ribbon work. For more ideas there are several books out which have lovely silk ribbon designs easily translated onto smocking. Just make sure you consider the stretch factor in smocking so that your stitches are on a stable base by smocking all the pleats. Some stitches are more suitable for working onto pleated fabric than others. The main consideration should be if the item is going to be washed frequently such as clothing or not at all as in pictures or pillow ... if not then the sky's the limit. In standard silk ribbon embroidery pillow covers that have been embellished can be hand washed but pictures are usually dusted or hand washed. What is true for both is that the agitation of a washing machine and the hot, hot dryer are enemies of your delicate fabrics and ribbons so hand washing is recommended. After all the time and effort you have put into your project you should wash the item carefully so as no damage occurs.
So far there are no books dedicated to this subject. You can find some information on how to work with it and designs in the book A to Z Smocking, in past issues of Sew Beautiful Magazine and Australian Smocking & Embroidery so if you are in love with the look it is trial and error on your part.
If you have never embroidered with silk ribbon there are a few basic rules you should be aware of. First is to work with short lengths of ribbon, 14" is the recommended length anything longer will end up looking like crap when you're done pulling it through the fabric. The 2nd is that some stitches are not suitable for working on smocked and pleated fabric such as the 3 dimensional flowers as daffodills. Rule of thumb is that if the stitch is recommended for washing you can use it on your smocking.
Many have asked if they can smock with silk ribbon and the answer is yes you can but you have to be prepared for the reality of working with ribbon as it is not like pulling out a long strand of floss to smock with. You have to use shorter lengths of the ribbon otherwise you will end up with a mess towards the end of the strand. Pulling the ribbon in and out of your fabric will cause wear and tear on the ribbon, straiting will happen (a pull in the middle of the ribbon that causes a run like in nylons) and there is really no way to repair it once this happens. Again 14" is the recommended length.
For embellishing you need to decide upon a smocked grid style for your backdrop whether it be on the front or on the back. Trellises worked on the reverse side as back smocking make pretty shapes on the front which can easily be used as your canvas for silk ribbon embroidery. Designs based on vines are perfect to use on your smocked piece as you can use the outline stitch to form your vine or branches. There are many smocking designs that use bullion roses and flowers that can easily be adapted for silk ribbon work. For more ideas there are several books out which have lovely silk ribbon designs easily translated onto smocking. Just make sure you consider the stretch factor in smocking so that your stitches are on a stable base by smocking all the pleats.
Some stitches are more suitable for working onto pleated fabric than others. The main consideration should be if the item is going to be washed frequently such as clothing or not at all as in pictures or pillow ... if not then the sky's the limit. In standard silk ribbon embroidery pillow covers that have been embellished can be hand washed but pictures are usually dusted or hand washed. What is true for both is that the agitation of a washing machine and the hot, hot dryer are enemies of your delicate fabrics and ribbons so hand washing is recommended. After all the time and effort you have put into your project you should wash the item carefully so as no damage occurs.
Lazy Daisy stitch - this is a good one as long as your stitch is not too tight, the stretch factor in smocking
Loop Flower with a french knot (or cluster) in the middle or a bead is a good choice as you can anchor the flower in one pleat.
Spider Rose - as long as your base stitches are not too tight this rose will last through washings.
Wrapped straight stitch bullion flowers is another good one.
My recommendations for silk ribbon smocking is only to use the ribbon for your embellishments, otherwise you will be stopping and starting a lot as 14" is about the maximum length to use to avoid fraying. On the other hand smocking worked with silk ribbon is gorgeous on Swiss batiste and fine silks.
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A to Z Sewing for Smockers - $28.00
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Click on book for table of contents.
"With all this snow, not to mention icicles and such-like, it isn't so hot in my field about three o'clock in the morning. In fact, quite-between-ourselves-and-don't-tell-anybody, it's COLD!" — Eeyore
Don't forgot to check out our What's New Pages and front door.
For complete information on how to get started smocking please visit this page.
Special Edition - How to do a Bishop Dress
Special Edition - What is Smocking?
Special Edition - How to Get Started Smocking
Special Edition - Eleven Rules of Smocking
Special Edition - How to make the Perfect Bullion and Bullion Rose
Smocking Newsletter since 1996, frequently imitated. Glad to be of inspiration to all who read our issues. All we ask is that you give us credit when you quote from our newsletters, we do.
Beginning Smocking Texts:
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